Last year I had the time of my life at the SnowBall Music Festival and expect no less of this year’s event, taking place from March 2-4.  If you’re a first time attendee or visitor to Avon (the town that actually hosts the event), you should probably read on…

Good decisions make for good memories!

See the bottom of the page for the full lineup!

1)  After Parties - Trust me, you want to purchase tickets to the late night events (if you’re 21+).  The Town of Avon requires that the music stops sometime around 10pm (can’t recall the exact time) and by the time the festival ends, the party is just getting started..  The official after parties are being held at Samana and Vendetta’s (both in Vail Village) and at Agave and Loaded Joe’s (both in Avon) and they will SELL OUT Fast!  Purchase tickets in advance, and even if you decide not to go, you’ll be able to sell them easily.  I recommend trying to see a show at Agave, because you can walk there from the Festival and in my opinion, it is Vail’s best indoor concert venue.  The best thing about the after parties is they allow you to see and hang out with some of your favorite SnowBall artists in an intimate, warm setting.

My good friends and I at SnowBall Music Festival 2011

2)  Don’t dress to impress; dress to stay warm! – Last year I couldn’t believe that some people thought lack of clothing was a good idea.  The SnowBall not only takes place at 7,400 feet, but it’s also outside in the middle of winter, so dress for it!  I wouldn’t consider going to Snowball without my snow pants, a jacket, beanie, thick socks, warm boots and a good pair of gloves.  There isn’t anywhere you can go to warm up while the show is going on, so come prepared so you can enjoy yourself and dance, dance, dance.

3)  Wondering where to sleep? Your car is NOT the answer -  You’ll freeze.  If you’re looking to save money I recommend checking out hotels in Eagle. Eagle is only a 30 minute drive from Avon and offers very affordable lodging.  I recommend the Silverleaf Suites for a great stay at an awesome price.  Better yet the Eco bus runs a regular service from Eagle to Vail and is only $4 each way.  Learn more about the Vail Valley Transit system.

4)  Don’t Drive -  If there is a way to get to the Snowball that doesn’t require your car, go for it.  Traffic is a nightmare, as is parking.  Do yourself a favor and hop on the Turtle Bus Bar, or have a friend drop you off at the show.  The less traffic, cars and drunk driving, the better the experience will be for all.

5)  Explore!  Check out Beaver Creek and Vail while you’re in town.   From the festival you can hop one of Beaver Creek’s free buses to take you up into BC Village.  Both Beaver Creek and Vail are world class resorts for a reason!  Once you see, or even better, once you ski these resorts you will want to plan a trip to come back for them.

6)  Most importantly – Show RESPECT and have fun!  We’re so fortunate to have this event in the Vail Valley and it takes all of us working together to keep it here.  Respect all those around you, the Town of Avon and the people bringing you the music.  Amen.

The Snowball Music Festival will be one of the most memorable things you do this winter, so do it right.  Call one of our local Destination Specialists today [(970)477-1777] to learn more about lodging options in Vail, Avon, Beaver Creek and Eagle.

The full lineup of bands and DJs that will be at the 2012 Snowball Music Festival in Avon, Colorado (schedule here)

• A. Tom Collins
• Afroman
• At Dawn We Rage
• Bag Raiders
• Bassnectar
• Beats Antique
• Big Boi
• Big Freedia
• Boneless
• Boombox
• boyhollow
• Break Science ft. Chali 2na (of Jurassic 5)
• Cassian
• Cherub
• Crushendo (formerly Slim Thugz)
• Dada Life
• Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.
• DallasK
• Deer Tick
• Digital Connection
• Dillon Francis
• DJ Skywalkerr
• DubSkin
• Elephant Revival
• Eminence Ensemble
• Figure
• Flashlights
• Gardens & Villa
• Gauntlet Hair
• Ghostland Observatory
• Gosteffects
• Gramatik
• GRiZ
• Helicopter Showdown
• Hollagramz
• Kinetix
• Los Amigos Invisibles
• Major Lazer
• ManCub
• MartyParty
• MiMOSA
• My Goodness
• Nathaniel Rateliff
• NiT GriT
• Paul Basic
• Pierce Fulton
• Plastic Plates
• Rusko
• Sauna
• Small Black
• Snoop Dogg
• Soul Clap
• Stephan Jacobs
• Sub.mission Dubstep
• SunSquabi
• SuperVision
• The Acidophiles
• The Drunken Hearts
• The Head and the Heart
• The Kooks
• The Lumineers
• The Magic Beans
• The Motet
• THiCK CHiCK [LiVE]
• Thundercat
• Tommy Michael
• Trampled by Turtles
• Tribes
• TV on the Radio
• Two Fresh
• Unknown Mortal Orchestra
• Wolf + Lamb

So come out and visit the Vail Valley from March 2-4, and enjoy a great weekend in the mountains!